Coming into the 2023-24 season, Mikal Bridges was regarded by many as the one player that the Brooklyn Nets could be sending to the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. However, with the Nets at 16-22 (10th in the Eastern Conference), it seems that Bridges’ All-Star candidacy is falling along with Brooklyn’s chances to get into the playoffs.
In the Second Fan Returns released on Jan. 11, Bridges had the 10th-most votes among Eastern Conference frontcourt players, according to the NBA’s post on “X”. While being in the top-10 of votes is still a good sign for Bridges, it signals a slide as he had the seventh-most votes in the First Fan Returns that came out on Jan. 4.
Where Bridges was once ahead of Boston Celtics forward Kristaps Porzingis, Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma, and Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, the former Villanova Wildcat is now trailing Porzingis, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, and Banchero.
Bridges, 27, is averaging 21.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 45% from the field and 35% from behind the three-point line. While he is technically on track to having his best full season in his sixth year in the NBA, Bridges’ numbers this season are down significantly from his 27 games with the Nets last season when he put up 26.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game on 47.5% shooting from the field and 37.6% shooting from deep.
What Bridges put on display last season for Brooklyn following the Kevin Durant trade that brought him to the Nets is the reason that many had him as a potential All-Star candidate. But, this season has mostly been a disappointment across the board for Bridges based off pre-season expectations.
Nets' Mikal Bridges received the 10th-most votes in the second fan returns for the 2024 All-Star Game. In the first fan returns last week, Bridges received the 7th-most votes. His votes are trending in the wrong direction, but it makes sense given where the Nets are right now. https://t.co/KLEUQCzEJA
— Sharif Phillips-Keaton (@SharifKeaton) January 11, 2024
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